Grade 5B Info., Updates, News

Today in Math we added long division to our division strategies. Be sure to watch these MathAntics videos for step-by-step instructions on how to use long division:

Students do need to be able to divide 3-digit by 1-digit numbers in Grade 5. I have asked students to either focus on our subtraction strategy from yesterday or the long division strategy from today, and to work towards mastering the strategy of their choice. Remember, if you have already mastered one strategy, work on the next! Having more strategies that you can use is always a benefit for your success in the future.

In Language Arts today we continued to practice our researching skills with another round of "Where is the Other Ms. B?" Today students learned about Ms. B's stops in La Fortuna, Tortuguero, and Cahuila, Costa Rica, as well as Boquete, Panama. We are going to continue this game this week. Students are getting to be quite skilled at pulling out the important details and using key words to help them to search. We also had a number of students successfully use Google Maps to help them to find specific locations. Remember, if you are away this week and you want to follow along at home, you can find the "Where is the Other Ms. B?" slideshow under the "Technology" page.

In Social Studies today we continued to use the BookCreator app on our classroom IPads to create our informational texts about the First Nations groups we have been researching. Can't wait to share our results.

In Science today we learned more about energy efficiency. Specifically, we looked at Energuide labels and how to read them. The students are all experts now. Use them to help you shop for your next big purchase such as a washer, dryer, etc. Remember, the lower the number, the more energy efficient the device (and the less it will cost you in the long run). But, pay attention to the fine print. Does the label show the kWh/month or the kWh/year? You might have to do some multiplication to properly compare different brands depending on the label used. Calculate how much the device uses in a year (x 12 months) to be able to see how many kWh the device will use in a full year. It is important that we choose energy efficient devices when possible to save energy, reduce pollution, and to lower our energy bills. Win-win for all involved!